RESIN'S. 425 



tine trees, and had the satisfaction of finding: that 

 these grafts succeeded perfectly well. To his asto- 

 nishment, however, a few years afterwards, on 

 making- incisions in the trees a liquid flowed, which 

 combined with the odour and other qualities of the 

 mastic, the unchanging fluidity of turpentine*. 



The quantity of mastic imported into this country, 

 and retained for home consumption, in 1830, was 

 13,644 Ibs. It is admitted under a duty of 6.?. per 

 cwt. ; its present price varying from 4s. 6d. to 

 55. 6d. for the same quantity. 



A small quantity of inferior mastic is brought 

 from Egypt. 



Mastic, like all other resins, is soluble in alcohol 

 and oil of turpentine, and is scarcely acted upon by 

 water ; it becomes by mastication soft and tough 

 like India-rubber. A small part of it does not dis- 

 solve in a spirituous menstruum, and this portion 

 much resembles caoutchouc in its properties. 



Sandarach is a dry and hard resin, usually met 

 with in transparent granules of the size of a pea. 

 When good, it is of a bright yellow colour, of an 

 acrid and aromatic taste, and diffuses a very pleasant 

 smell while burning. It has all the characteristics of 

 the other resins, being almost totally soluble in alcohol, 

 with which it forms a very white varnish which 

 speedily dries, and which is much esteemed for 

 delicate work. It is likewise used as pounce to prevent 

 the running of the ink in any parts of paper rendered 

 defective by being deprived of its smooth surface. 



This resin was at one time universally supposed to 

 be derived from the Juniperus communis, and most 

 European writers who notice it, describe sandarach as 

 a resinous juice residing between the bark and wood 

 of the juniper. M. Schousboe has however proved 

 * Olivier. 



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